Pie-filling machine.



I 0.00LBORNE.

PIE FILLING MAGEINB.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 3, 1909.

956,684. Patented Mal s, 1910.

2 SEBETB-SHEET 1.

O. UOLBORNE.

I PIE FILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. s, 1902.

956,684. Patented May 3, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"1 & ?I 1 inaiinn erases PATENT @EFIGE.

. OLIVER COLBORNE,- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PIE-FILLING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Omvnn CoLnonNn,

a citizen of the United States of America, and a residentwof Chicago,county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pie-Filling Machines, of which the following is aspecification. I The main objects of this invention are.to provide animprovedconstruction of pie filling machines adapted to automaticallyfill the pie crust with a filling material; to provide improved meansfor measuring the filling material and delivering it to the pie crust;to provide a machine in which the operating mechanism in the tank may bequickly removed or replaced; and to provide a device of this class whichis particularly adapted for filling pies which are being carried alongby a continuously moving conveyer.

A specific construction embodying this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts removed, of a piefilling device'embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan'viewof one of the nozzles and its controlling valve plate. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the device with parts in section. Fig. l is an enlargedside elevation, partly in section, of one of the nozzles.

In the construction shown in the drawings, a bearing sleeve or pedestall is rigidly secured to the floor or other support 2,

and journaled therein is the drive shaft 3 which extends below saidfloor and is rotated by any suitable means, not shown. 'lheneceptacle ortank 4-, which is adapted to contain the filling material to bedelivered to the pies, is provided on its bottom 5 with an upwardlydirected axial sleeve or hub 6 through which theupper end of said shaftextends, and is rigidly secured to said shaft by news of the pin 7extending there jtihrougli andthrough the shaft, so that said tank iscaused to rotate with the shaft. The

tank is provided in its bottom 5' and near the periphery thereof with aplurality of openings in which are rigidly but removably securedthemeasuring nozzles S, which are of a size to contain the desired quantityof filling material for a single pie. lac-h of said nozzles, as shownmore clearly in Fig.

7 Specification of Itetters Patent. Application filed April 3,

Patented May 3, 1910. 1909. Serial No. 487,739.

at, is provided at its upper end with a reduced portion 9 which fitstightly in one of the openings in said bottom, and a eripheral shoulder10 is provided at the liase of said reduced portion and is adapted toabut against the lower side ofthe bottom when the top of the reducedportion is flush with the upper surface of the bottom. For the purposeof holding the nozzles in'place, each is provided on one side with ahook 11 adapted to engage a bolt 12 projecting downwardly from thebottom of the tank, and

which may be provided with a nut or other means, not shown,'on which thehook rests 'to prevent the nozzle from falling. Means are provided forcontrolling the outlet'openings in said nozzles and permitting thefilling material to be discharged into the tins at the proper intervals.For this purpose each nozzle is provided with alaterally swinging valvegate or closure 13 adapted to fit closely to the lower end thereof andhaving an inwardly directed lever'arn 14 t by means of whiclnit isoperated. Each of said arms is pivotally supported on the bottom of thetank to permit the closure to travel with the nozzles, and is mountedextends and which acts to hold the closure truly seated against thenozzle.

A cam roller'lS) is journaled on a bearing stud 20 on the inner endofeach arm 14, and is adapted to travel on the sleeve 1. On one side ofsaid sleeve is a cam 21 which lies in the paths of said rollers and actsto turn the arms on their pivots and swing the valve closures frombeneath the nozzles to open the latter. Each of said arms is providedwith a coiled spring 22 which is secured at one end to the arm and atthe other end to the bottom of the tank and normally acts to hold theclosure in closed position. A stop 23 is carried on the bottom of thenozzle for the closure to abut against when in closed-p0 sition. At oneside of said tank is a standof said standard and is adapted to be turnedoutwardly from the tank until it rests on a stop 26 on the standard. Theupper portion of said arm is bent at a right angle to the lower portionthereof, and when the arm is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 3,said upper portion extends inwardly over the tank. ()n the inner end ofsaid arm is an apertured head 28, the bore of which is in axialalinemcnt with the shaft 3 when the arm is in operative position, and ashaft 29 is rigidly secured in said head and extends downwardly inalinement with and into close proximity to said shaft 3. Bigidly securedon the lower end of said shaft 29, above the lower end thereof, is anannular spider 30 on which is rigidly secured a cam track 31 preferablyof sheet metal. On the inner side of the tank, above each of saidnozzles and in axial alinement therewith, is a guide sleeve or cylinder32, and slidably mounted in each cylinder is a plunger 33 which isadapted to control communication between the tank and the nozzle belowthe same and to eject the filling material from the nozzles when thevalves are open. To

. prevent the plungers from rotating in the guide cylinders and topermit them to reciprocate, a pin 34 is secured in the side of eachplunger and projects outwardly through a slot 35 in the tank.

Adjustably secured on the upper end of veach plunger is a horizontallydirected axle 36, on which is journaled a roller 37 adapted to travel onthe cam track 31 and raise and lower the plunger.; Said cam track isprovided with a high horizontal portion 38 which is situated on the sideof the shaft 3 opposite from the valve operating cam 21, and when theroller 37 is traveling thereon the plunger is held retracted from thenozzle and at a distance above the bottom of the tank. Leadingdownwardly from said portion 38, in the direction of the travel of thetank, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, is a short inclined part 39'hich terminates in an intermediate horizon 1 part 40. An inclined part41 extends d wnwardly from said intermediate part 40 to a low horizontalpart 42. Above said parts 39, 40, and 41 is a second track 43 whichcbnforms' to said parts and acts-to hold the rollers thereon and forgethe plungers downwardly. Said second track may be supported in anydesired manner, but, as shown, is carried by arms 44 secured to the cam31. A long inclined portion 45 leads upwardly from said low portion 42to said high portion 38.

For the purpose of dlrecting the filling material in the tank toward thenozzles, a deflecting arm 46 has an apertured inner end 47 through whichthe sleeve extends and the outer end thereof projects toward the wall ofthe tank. A. bar 48 is carried on said spider, and the lower end thereofprojects into a socket in said arm and prevents the arm from travelingwith the tank. The rear side of said arm is inclined forwardly from theinner end of the arm, and as the,

tank is rotated the material on the bottom 5 is moved thereby toward thenozzles. Said arm lies flat on the bottom of the tank and acts to scrapethe material from said bottom as the tank becomes em ty. Detiectingblades 49 are also supported rom said spider by means of rods 50, andare inclined to the direction of rotation of the tank and serve to movethe material toward the periphery of the tank.

The operation of the construction shown is as follows: Any preferredconstruction of conveyer adapted to carry the pie tins may be providedto travel beneath the nozzles along the path indicated by the dottedline 51 in Fig. 1. This conveyer should, of course, travel at a speedequal to that of the nozzles 8 during the rotation of the tank. Theconveyer should also be provided with pie tin supports, not shown,spaced at suitable intervals to re ister with the nozzles when assingaroun the axis of the tank. The filling material is placed in the tank,and when the shaft 3 is rotated the tank is caused to rotate therewithand carry the rollers along the cam track 31. When said rollers are onthe high portion 38 01 said track, the plungers are withdrawn'from thenozzles, and the filling material flows into said nozzles and isretained therein by'the valve closures 13. When the roller descends fromthe high portion to the intermediate portion 40, the lower end of theplunger just enters the top of the nozzle in which it fits closely, andcuts off communication between the tank and the nozzle. As the roller 37travels along said portion 40, the roller 19 contacts with the cam 21,which causes the inner end of the arm to swing rearwardly and therebymove the valve closure from beneath the nozzle. The roller 37 thendoscends the inclined portion 41, and the pluncr travels downwardly inthe nozzle and forces all of the material therefrom. When said valve isopen, it is prevented from being raised above the bottom of the nozzleby the sprin 17 by means of a ard arm 52 on the side of the nozzle. sthe roller 37 travels along the low portion 42, the arm 14 passes the'cam 21,. and.the spring- 22-retracts the valve closure which in closingwipesthe bottom of the plunger. The roller 37 then ascends the inwardlyinclined por tion 45 and retracts the plunger from the nozzle, whichagain fills with material. As the tank revolves, the deflector blades 49work the material toward the-nozzles, and as the tank becomes nearlyempty, the arm 46 scrapes the material from the bottom and works ittoward the nozzles. A sleeve 53 rests on the top of the sleevefi andoverlaps rollers 37 clear of the cam tracks.

the abutting ends of the shafts 3 and 29, and when itis desired toremove the cam track from the tank for the purpose of cleaning the tank,or for any other reason, the studs 34 are removed from the plungers, andthe plungers-are lifted out of their guide cylinders or are turned so asto move the The sleeve 53 is first raised clear of the end of the shaft3, and the arm is then swung outwardly and carries the track therewith.Each of said nozzles holds sufiicient filling material for one pie, andit the quantity is to be changed for different kinds or sizes of pies,the nozzles may be quickly replaced by larger or shorter ones, asdesired.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown,it Will be understood that numerous details of the con struction may bealtered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A pie filling machine, comprising a ro tary tank, a measuring nozzlein the bottom thereof, means adapted to open and close the outlet end ofsaid nozzle,and means adapted to close the inlet end of said nozzle andto force'material from the outlet end When said outlet end thereof isopen.

2. A pie filling machine, comprising a rotary tank, a measurin nozzleopening therefrom and adapted to lie filled from the contents of thetank, means adapted to normally close the outlet end of said nozzle, and

means adapted to close the inlet end of said;

nozzle and force the contents of the nozzle to flow out when said outletend is open.

3. A pie filling machine, comprising a rotary tank adapted to containfilling material, a nozzle removably mounted in said tank flush with thebottom thereof, and adapted ,to receive filling material from said tank,a plunger adapted to be moved into and out of the nozzle, a valvecontrollin the outlet end of said nozzle, and means For opening saidvalve when the plunger enters the nozzle. v

at. A pie filling machine, comprising a rotary tank, a measuring nozzlecommunicating therewith, a plunger supported in the tank in almementwithsaid nozzle and ger mounted in the tank and adapted to controlcommunication between the tank and nozzle, and means operated throughthe rotation of thetank and adapted to operate said said nozzles pivotedon the bottom of the j tank and adapted to be. operated by said cam,reciprocating plungers mounted in the tank, one above each nozzle, astationary cam track, and means connected with saidplungers andadaptedthrough engagement with 'said track to move the plungers into and out ofsaid nozzles.

7. A pie filling machine, comprising a rotatable shaft, a tank mountedon said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a plurality ot measuringnozzles removably secured in the bottom of the tank, a closure for eachnozzle, an arm on each closure and pivoted" to the bottom of the tank, astationary cam adapted to engage said arms and operate the closuresthrough the rotation of the tank, and means in said tank adapted toenter the inner ends of said nozzles and force material from the nozzleswhen the closures are open.

8. A pie filling machine, COII IPIlSIIIg' a tank, means for rotating thesame, a .plu-

rality of measuring nozzles in thebottom of said tank, valve mechanismadapted to:

open and close the outer ends or said nozdischarge predeterminedquantities of. said material from the tank, a stationary cam in theupper portion of said tank adaptedto operate said means, and a jointedsupport for said cam adapting it to be swung clear of the tank.

10. A. pie filling machine, comprising a tank, means 'for rotating saidtankg -measuring devices in the bottomot said tank, guides in the tankabove said measuring devices, a plunger in each guide adapted to forcematerial from the measuring devices, a standard adjacent said tank, anarm" hinged thereon,"a stationary cam supportedfon said arm above thetank, and means on each plunger adapted to travel on saidcain andoperate such plunger. i

11. A pie filling machine, comprising a tank adapted to contain fillingmaterial, means for rotating said tank, valve controlled measuringnozzles in said tank, operating means adapted. to discharge measuredfrom said nozzles 11 of the tank, adapt cl through the move the material0- omprising a vertical axis,

d tzmlg and he inlet and nozzla; means sperzi'ierl anti a sweepextending into zi'ptzed through the IOtfltlOIl Ellfll therein tomac-hingcemprising a 2 E'Glfli'e on a vertical axis, "timing: flowmvanl fromsaid tank. Mil i 201w: 1 ilwreifom clesures 101 the inlet and m. t endsof said nozzle, means opez aixxl iln'ougli the rotation of said tank foropening and clorsing said closures alternately and adapted to cause saidnozzle 0 (ii charge n'ieaisnrerl quantities of nmlel'izil from said12ml: at pi'evletciminccl ini'ervals of the mml'ion thereof, and aStud-31132:? sweep exi'ending into said tank and inclinei'l to a radialdii'ectimi so as to urge the material in 110 tank toward said nozzleiln'ougli ilm rotation of the tank.

Signed at (fihimgo this 1st day of April, 1909.

OLKVEE COLBORNE.

Witnesses:

EUGENE A. T MA Y .M. .Di'

